Traverse device



Aug. 8, 9 7 D. E. FISHER ETAL TRAVERSE DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1965 INVENTORS D-E FISHER D. J. LAMB R.W. TIMBIE AGENT United States Patent Office v 3,334,829 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 3,334,829 TRAVERSE DEVICE Don E. Fisher, Douglas J. Lamb, and Robert W. Timbie,

This invention relates to a traverse device for reversibly displacing continuous strands, filaments and yarns in Winding procedures and, more particularly, relates to a novel drum traverse device designed to provide higher speeds of traversal than attainable with conventional drum type traverse apparatus.

In the textile art, different kinds of traverse devices are used to displace yarn back and forth in bobbin winding procedures. One well known device used is the drum, cylinder, or barrel cam traverse device. The present invention is an improvement upon this type.

In general, the conventional type traverse comprises a driven cylinder having a continuous peripheral cam groove formed therein. A cam follower, adapted to carry a yarn guide, is slidably positioned in the cam groove. Rectilinear control of the cam follower is effected by slidably mounting an arm extending from the follower on a longitudinal rail or bar positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the drum. When the drum is rotated, the cam follower is driven in a linear back and forth path for displacing yarn on a take-up bobbin.

The conventional drum traverse device, in operation, presents disadvantages limiting the rate of traversal. The problems encountered stern primarily from the condition that occurs when the cam follower, as presently designed and supported, is subjected to unbalance and disorienting forces at the reversal points causing the cam follower to vibrate, rotate, rock and sometimes shear.

The traverse device embodying the invention, in one form of construction, basically comprises a hollow cylindrical drum with a continuous winding cam slot formed therethrough and a transverse reinforcing wall or web provided centrally of the drum. The web has oppositely disposed openings or slots and has a central hub for connection to a driving means. A follower member having rounded sides is slidably mounted within the cam slot and is dynamically balanced to minimize disorientation while being propelled, cyclically, back and forth by the drum. Control surfaces are provided on the follower member to further counteract forces tending to produce disequilibrium. The follower member provides a yarn guide projecting to the outside of the drum for lacing a yarn therein.

The follower member is slidably supported interiorly and exteriorly of the drum and confined to follow a linear path of travel by a fixedly mounted bar assembly spacingly straddling the drum interiorly and exteriorly thereof. The bar assembly defines longitudinal slots interiorly and exteriorly of the drum. The interior portion of the bar assembly is divided to permit the reinforcing web of the drum to pass therethrough when the latter is operatively rotating.

In operation, the drum is rotatably driven to actuate the follower member while the bar assembly controls the linear path of travel and the attitude or position of the follower member. The transfer of forces to the follower member is controlled so that the forces are distributed through the follower member uniformly to prevent cocking, tilting, turning and consequent wearing of the follower member.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved drum traverse device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved drum traverse device including a cam follower member supported at inner and outer sides of the drivmg cam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a high speed traverse device.

A better understanding of the novel traverse device will be gained by reference to the detailed description that follows and to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novel traverse device,

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view,

F FIGURE 3 is an end view looking along 33 of FIGURE 4 is a cross-section view taken through 4-4 of FIG. 2, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the cam follower member.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1-5, the novel traverse device 1 comprises a cylindrical hollow drum 2 having a continuous cam slot 3 formed therethrough. Drum 2 is reinforced centrally thereof by a transverse web 4 having an axial hub 5 formed therein. Web 4 has oppositely disposed openings of slots 6 that open to cam slot 3. Drum 5 is rotatably driven through a shaft 7 connected to hub 5 and driven by motor 8.

A follower member 10 is positioned within cam slot 3. Follower member 10 has a cam follower portion 11 that has slidable contact with the side walls defining cam slot 3 and has oppositely disposed cantilever portions 12 and 13. Cantilever portion 12 extends into the interior of drum 2 and portion 13 extends outwardly to the exterior of the drum. Each cantilever portion 12 and 13 has bearing surfaces 14 and 15, respectively. Preferably, portions 12 and 13 are aligned on each side of portion 10 for purposes of balance. Cantilever portion 13 further includes a yarn guide 16 adjacent bearing surfaces 15 and is separated therefrom by flanges 17.

A stationary rail or bar assembly straddles drum 2 interiorly and exteriorly and at one side thereof and includes an interior bearing support bar or rail 18 and an exterior bearing support bar 19. Both bars 18 and 19 are spaced from the walls of drum 2 and extend axially thereof so that drum 2 rotates therebetween. The interior bar 18 provides a longitudinally extending slot 20 in which bearing surfaces 14 of member 10 are supported, slidably confined and restrained. Intermediate it ends at a point intersecting with web 4, bar 18 has a portion removed providing a gap 18a to permit passage of web 4 therethrough when drum 2 rotates. Preferably, the portion removed is smaller than the width of bearing surfaces 14 so that when the bearing surfaces 14 move linearly from one section of bar 18 to the other section traversing gap 18a, part of bearing surfaces 14 are always supported within one of the sections.

Exterior bar 19 provides a longitudinal slot 20a and bearing surfaces 15 of member 10 are positioned therein. Bar 19 is not split or divided as is bar 18 but is continuous.

For purposes of assembly, each bar 18 and 19 may have upper and lower portions that are secured conventionally by screws at the ends thereof and each provides a slot or track therebetween.

The follower member 10, with its connected portions is dynamically balanced with the center of mass of the entire component being located centrally of the cam follower portion 11. The sidewalls of cam follower portion 11 that engage the sidewalls defining cam slot 3 are curvilinear or round so that the reversal forces applied to the cam follower portion 11 by drum 2 act through the center of mass of member 10 minimizing disorientation (rocking, tilting, cocking) of the latter member.

Preferably, follower member is integrally constructed of durable plastic material and is designed to be as light as possible with all unnecessary material removed to reduce the magnitude of the working forces.

Follower member 10 is constrained or controlled from rolling, pitching and spinning about its axis by bars 18 and 19 and is restrained from axial displacement by flanges 17 and a shoulder 21 provided on the cam follower portion 11 to maintain stability of member 10 in its traversing path.

In operation, drum 2 is driven rotatably by motor 8 and as the drum rotates the sidewalls of cam slot 3 apply a driving force to 'the cam follower member 10 displacing the latter and the yarn positioned in the yarn guide 16 reversibly back and forth, cyclically, across the face of a bobbin 22. With follower member 10 supported at opposite sides of drum 2 in bars 18 and 19,

follower member 10 is controlled against rotational rock- 7 ing and tilting forces, as explained. The cantilever portion 12 when'moving from one to the otBer side of drum 2 passes synchronously through openings 6 in web 4 while spanning gap 18a in bar 18. Locating the center of gravity centrally of cam follower portion 11 and forming the sides thereof curvilinear assures application of reversal forces through the center of gravity providing reversal of member 10 with as little change in its attitude or position in its plane of travel.

The conventional drum traverse devices provide speeds of 400-500 traversal cycles per minute, one traversal cycle being a back and forth movement of the cam follower. The novel traverse device described herein provides op erating speeds in excess of 2000 traversal cycles per minute.

Since the construction of the novel traverse device is symmetrical, a duplicating bar 18 and 19 assembly and follower member 10 arrangement could be positioned diametrically opposite the single arrangement shown to provide multiple traversing of a plurality of yarn ends.

It will be understood that an illustrated embodiment of the invention, only, is shown in the drawing described herein and that variations and modifications therefrom are contemplated within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A traverse device comprising:

(a) a cylindrical drum having a continuous cam slot cylindrical drum, a yarn guide portion extending to the exterior of said cylindrical drum, and

(c) fixed support means, spacingly straddling said cylindrical drum interiorly and exteriorly thereof for supporting and restraining said bearing means to control movement of said follower member in a linear path.

2. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said follower member is dynamically balanced with the center of mass being centrally located within said cam follower portion.

3. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said cam follower portion of said follower member has curvilinear side surfaces that engage with the surfaces of said cylindrical drum defining said continuous cam slot.

4. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said follower member has axial displacement control portions formed thereon.

5. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said ca-m follower portion, said bearing portions, and said yarn guide portion of said follower member are integrally formed of a plastic material.

6. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said fixed support means define a discontinuous longitudinal slot interiorly of said cylindrical drum and a continuous longitudinal slot exteriorly thereof; said interior and exterior bearing portions of said follower member being slidably supported and restrained within said discontinuous and continuous longitudinal slots, respectively.

7. A traverse device as in claim 1, wherein, said fixed support means comprises a fixed longitudinal interior bar and a fixed longitudinal exterior bar each being spaced from and extending axially of said cylindrical drum; said interior bar having a gap intermediate its ends for the formed therethrough and a slotted reinforcing wall therein adapted for connection to a driving means, (b) a follower member having a cam follower portion slidably positioned in said cam slot, bearing portions extending to the interior and to the exterior of said passage of said slotted reinforcing wall therethrough and providing a longitudinal discontinuous slot for slidably supporting and confining said interior bearing portion of said follower member, said exterior bar providing a longitudinal continuous slot for slidably supporting and confining said exterior bearing portion of said follower member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,059,874 10/1962 Hays 242-1585 3,074,286 l/ 1963 Altice et 31. 3,086,722 4/1963 Altice et a1 24243 3,248,064 4/ 1966 Rollings 24243 3,281,086 10/1966 Goodman et a1. 242-1583 X STANLEY N. 'GILREATH, Primary Examiner; 

1. A TRAVERSE DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A CYLINDRICAL DRUM HAVING A CONTINUOUS CAM SLOT FORMED THERETHROUGH AND A SLOTTED REINFORCING WALL THEREIN ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A DRIVING MEANS, (B) A FOLLOWER MEMBER HAVING A CAM FOLLOWER PORTION SLIDABLY POAITIONED IN SAID CAM SLOT, BEARING PORTIONS EXTENDING TO THE INTERIOR AND TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CYLINDRICAL DRUM, A YARN GUIDE PORTION EXTENDING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CYLINDRICAL DRUM, AND 